Apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like.



G. ALDWORTH. APPARATUSFOR MANUFACTURING wuss AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18,I915

Patented June 13, 1916.

a SHEETSSHEET 1.

Q WU D9 THE COLUMBIA PLANOHRAFH 60., WASHINGTON, D. C-

6. ALDWORTH.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIGS AND THE L IKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1915.

Patented June 13, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON D L G. ALDWORTH.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIGS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13, I915- Patented June 13, 1916.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Ham

WZZnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

GEORGE ALDWOR'lI-I, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES NESSLER, OFLONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING WIGS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed March 18, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE ALDwoR'rL subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at London, IV, England, have invented anew or Improved Apparatus for Manufacturing IVigs and the like, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the likesuch for example as what are known as postiches, transformations, andpartings. I shall hereinafter refer to such articles by the term wigs.Articles of this kind as at present manufactured are not only veryexpensive but are inferior as imitations. The usual practice is toattach the roots of the hairs to the meshes of a fine gauze but where awig so constructed is parted the meshes of the gauze are visible and thedesired deceptive effect is therefore not obtained. By means of myinvention these drawbacks are overcome.

In so far as my method is concerned I employ what I term a pelliclewhich when not of sufliciently strong material may be reinforced by whatI term a foundation and it is to the said pellicle or foundation thatthe hairs are attached. The pellicle in the completed wig is positionedabove the roots or attached extremities of the hairs and is visible whenthe hairs are parted. This pellicle may consist of any skin-likehomogeneous (more or less) material in the form of thin sheet that issufliciently pliable and perforable for my purpose. I find thatgold-boaters skin gives excellent results as a pellicle and when seen ina parting it closely resembles the human skin. Goldbeaters skin howeveris not sufficiently strong for use by itself and therefore when I employit I strengthen it by means of a foundation such for example as thinsilk gauze, the said silk gauze bearing any strain, or a large partthereof, transmitted through the hair.

In my method the hairs pass through both the foundation and thepellicle, the roots of the hair being fixed below the under surface ofthe foundation. By the under surface I mean that surface which wouldcome next the scalp when the wig is in position, the upper surface beingthe one which is out ward from the scalp, and I shall hereinafter usethe terms upper and under in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 13, 1916.

Serial No. 15,263.

same connection when speaking of the finished wig or of other parts.

Having now described my method I shall proceed to describe my apparatusand for that purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawings. v

Figure I is a plan of what I term my clamping plate. Fig. II is alongitudinal section thereof on the line a-Z; as viewed in the directionof the arrow. Figs. III and IV are transverse sections on the line 00Zas viewed in the direction of the arrows, Fig. III showing the clamps intheir closed position and Fig. IV the said clamps in their openposition. Fig. V is a side elevation of means for reciprocating thehook, and with the clamping-plate and its support shown in verticalsection. Fig. VI is a front view. of aportion of the means forreciprocating the hook. Fig. VII is a side elevation of the modifiedform of the means for reciprocating the hook, and with theclamping-plate and its support shown in vertical section.

In these figures, 1 is a frame of wood perforated by a rectangularorifice 2. Fitting loosely in this orifice is a thin aluminium or steelplate 3 (hereinafter termed the spring plate) delicately supported onfour helical springs 4. It is upon this plate 3 that the hair and thefoundation and the pellicle are laid, and it is upon this plate that thepoint of the hook impinges at the end of its down ward stroke. Thesesprings are for the purpose of causin the spring plate 3 to follow upthe hook and with it the pellicle, the foundation and the tress of hair)in whatever position the hook may take up. By this means the parts arealways kept pressed together. The springs 4E moreover are sufficientlydelicate to prevent such a resistance being presented to the point ofthe hook as will break it or blunt it seriously.

5 is a wire helix at the farther end (farther with respect to theoperator and upper with respect to the drawing) of the orifice 2 andstretching across the whole of its width. The object of this wire helixis'to distribute the hairs of the tress being operated upon in anequable manner, the hairs being distributed so as to lie in about equalquantities between contiguous convolutions of the helix. This helixrests in a shallow trough 6 so as not to be easily deflected between itsends and the trough lies in a transverse depression (5, in which arearranged the springs 6 acting to keep the trough pressed upwardly. Ateach side of the frame 1 is lined aclamp having a blade 7 slightlyserrated at its lower or gripping edge. Each clamp when closed lies in agroove 7, which crosses the depres sion 6 so that the clamps engage therespective ends of the trough. These clamps are maintained in theirclosed position by helical springs S in awell known manner. The clampsare shown in Fig. I in their closed position in full lines and in theiropen position in dotted lines.

9, 9 are finger pieces by means of which the clamps can be openedagainst the action of the springs 8.

It will be seen from Fig. III that when the clamps are in their closedposition the trough 6 is pressed downward by the blades 7 of the clampsto its lowest position against the action of the springs 6 these springsbeing compressed. When the clamps are in their open position (Fig. IV)the trough is no longer pressed downward against the springs 6*. Thesetherefore assert themselves and the trough is raised. The springs S areof course stronger than the springs 6 and the effect of these two setsof springs is to keep the tress of hair firmly grasped where it passesover the distributing spring 5, and so that the tress once equablyspread at this part will remain so as long as may be desired. It will beseen that when the hair, the foundation and the pellicle are arrangedover the plate 3 and between these clamps they are retained firmly inposition and conveniently disposed for the operation of thereciprocating hook. In thus placing the work in position, I usuallyplace a thick tress or bunch of hair across the distributer with theroot-ends lying outwardly and the other ends extending over the springplate. I-then c amp the foundation and the pellicle at one sine by oneof the clamps 7 and draw the material somewhat tightly over the tressand secure the opposite side of the material by the other clamp, theaction of which in its groove tends to draw the material firmly acrossthe underlying hair. The depression of the distributor by the closing ofthe clamps serves to draw the tress of hair slightly in a longitudinaldirection and thereby acts to straighten out the hairs. Under thiscondition the hook is caused to move through a comparatively large bunchof hair in which there is a suflicie-nt surplus to insure the hookpicking up a hair on its up-stroke and drawing it through the materialas stated. This bunching of the hair also prevents the hook from.colliding with the spring plate, at the same time the latter maintainsthe bunch of hair under upward pressure against the overlying foundationand pellicle.

The clamping plate illustrated is very convenient for my purpose but Ido not bind myself to its form or construction. Its important part isthe spring plate 3 as it is mainly upon the successful action of thesaid spring pla e, as influenced by the helical springs 1, that thesuccess of my invention depends; but the means for holding the parts,designed to constitute the wi in a conveniently arranged manner are alsoimportant.

I have now to describe means for causing the pointed hook toreciprocate. A convenient arrangen'ient for this purpose is shown in itssimplest form in Figs. V and VI, Fig. V being a side elevation of thereciprocating and transmission parts and. Fig. VI an end view of thereciprocating parts. In Fig. V, I show the clamping plate in a somewhatdiagrammatic manner placed in position under the reciprocating hook 11.It will be seen from this figure that the clan ping plate rests upon aplate or irface 12 of any convenient kind. All that is necessary is asmooth surface over which the clamping plate can he slid easily in anydirection. The hook 11 may be fixed in a holder 13 in a manner similarto that in which the needle of a sewing machine is attached and indeedthe whole arrangement shown in Fig. V is very similar to what isemployed in an ordinary sewing machine. The holder 13 attached to thereciprocating rod 14- which is moved upward and downward by the cam 15,centered at 15. This cam is shown as of the ordinary dished-disk form,the flange 16 passing be tween the two pins (on which rollers may bemounted) 17, 18 projecting from the reciprocating rod 14. This rodreciprocates within the guides 19, 20.

21 is a winch handle mounted on the wheel the aid wheel being mountedupon the shaft 23 so as to impart rotary motion thereto. The rotarymotion so imparted causes the cam 15 to rotate and the rotation of thesaid cam to reciprocate the rod 14 in the well known manner of thismechanical device. It will be seen that the wheel 22 bears acircumferential groove 24: so as to take power by means of a belt orcord from a treadle or a motor if desired. I do not limit myself to theapparatus for converting the rotary motion of the wheel 22 into thereciprocating motion of the reciprocating rod 1 1 as any otherconvenient means for converting rotary into recipro eating motion willanswer my purpose,

In Fig. VII, I illustrate a very simple form of apparatus in which,instead of converting rotary into reciprocating motion, I transmitreciprocating motion direct from the operator to the hook. In this casethe reciprocating rod 14 has two pins 30 mounted upon it between whichpins passes the leaf spring 31. To any convenient part of the leafspring is attached the hand wire 32 ending below in the thumb-ring 33.When the thumb or a finger is inserted within this ring and movedvertically upward or downward it imparts a vertical reciprocating motionto the hook in the obvious manner, the pressure of the finger or thumbbeing used to move the hook in one direction while the resiliency of theleaf spring 31 moves it in the other direction. It is obvious that anyconvenient motor which will give reciprocating motion may be substitutedfor the hand device.

In the figures I have for convenience of drawing exaggerated thedimensions of the hook 11. It will be understood that a hook to pick uphairs must be of very fine dimen sions.

I have hereinbefore spoken of the clamping plate as being moved by handbut I desire it to he understood that I may cause it to be movedsidewise over the plate or surface 12 by means of any well-known feedingmechanism.

In the drawings the barb of the hook is shown as turned to the right andit is to be understood that the travel of the work to be operated uponor of the clamping plate holding it should be from left to right so asto prevent any tearing of the material through which the point of thehook passes.

To make a wig by means of my appara tus, after properly arranging thematerials including the hair from which the wig is made, I place thesame across the springplate 3, and clamp the opposite sides of thematerial by means of the spring-clamping devices and then distribute thehairs of the tress in an equable manner by means of the wire helix 5. Ithen place a fine sharp pointed hook 11, in the holder 13, which isvertically reciprocated so as to move the hook down and up. On thedownward movement the hook penetrates the material so that on the returnupward movement its barb will draw one or more hairs upward through thematerial for a short distance in loop form. By repeating this operationa sufficient number of times, I soon obtain a large number of loopsprojecting upward, both limbs of each loop passing through the same holeor orifice made by the hook. By moving the clamped parts sidewise Iobtain a line of loops and after getting a line of loops by moving theclamped parts a' minute distance forward and then sidewise, I obtain asecond line of loops parallel with the first, and by repeating thisoperation, I obtain a certain number of lines of loops, whereupon thearticle is removed from the apparatus and manipulated by hand so as tosecure the roots of the hair and have the free ends projectingtherefrom. In this way I form a wig of any desired size.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for'manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, and an easily yieldingwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements.

2. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, and a springwork-plate in relation to which the hook moves and cooperates therewithand adapted to follow the hook in its movements.

3. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, andreleasable means for holding the material on said support.

4. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, the saidwork-support being adapted to be moved in any direction to which themovement of said hook is normal or practically normal.

5. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, and a movablemain-plate for sustaining the work-support.

6. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, and ahairdistributing device for a tress of hair used in the work.

7. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, and. ahair-distributing device near one end of the work-support and comprisinga horizontally disposed helical spring. I

8. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingWork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, a movablemain-plate for sustaining the work-support, a spring mountedhair-distributing device, spring actuated clamps for holding the work inposition on its support, and means for depressing the hair distributingdevice by the closing movement of the clamps. V

9. in apparatus for manufacturing Wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldinwork-support in relation to which the hook moves and cooperatestherewith and adapted to follow the hook in its movements, ahair-distributing device comprising a horizontally disposed helicalspring, and a support arranged beneath said spring to prevent itsdeflection between the ends.

10. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support adapted to follow the hook in its movements, a movablemain-plate for sustaining the work-support, a spring mounted hai-distributing device, spring actuated clamps for holding the work inposition on its support, said clamps being adapted to engage saidhair-distributing device and to depress it in the closing movement ofthe clamps.

11. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa movable hook for drawing hair through material, an easily yieldingwork-support adapted to follow the hook in its movements, a movablemain-plate for sustaining the work-support, spring actuated clamps forholding the work, and grooves formed in the main-plate for receiving thejaws of the clamps.

12. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa reciprocating hook for drawing hair through material, and means forreciprocating the hook, and an easily yielding Work-support in relationto which the hook moves and cooperates therewith and adapted to followthe hook in its movements.

13. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa reciprocating device and means for actuating it, a hook connected withand reciprocated by said device, and a spring-mounted worksupport inrelation to which the hook moves and cooperates therewith and adapted tofollow the hook in its movements.

14. In apparatus for manufacturing wigs and the like, the combination ofa rotating device and means for actuating the same, reciprocating meansoperatively connected with said device, a reciprocating hook connectedwith and reciprocated by said means, and a spring-1nounted work supportin re lation to which the hook moves and cooperates therewith andadapted to follow the hook in its movements.

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE ALDXV ORTH.

Vitnesses AirrnUR CHAPLES SEIDEL, O'r'ro SCHNEIDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington. I). G.

